More funds needed to complete 87 project

Four-laning State Road 87 from the Alabama state line to U.S. Highway 98 in Navarre may come to a standstill if more funding options don't surface in the near future.

Santa Rosa County officials held a SR 87 Summit with representatives from the Transportation Planning Organization and the Florida Department of Transportation on Dec. 15 to discuss the history and status of the project.

FDOT District 3 representative George Holland said the FDOT had invested about $120 million on portions of the project since it began in the late 90s. The widening from U.S. 98 to Five Forks Road cost $35 million and the portion being completed now from Five Forks Road to the southern boundary of Eglin Air Force Base cost $30 million.

The widening on SR 87 from Hickory Hammock Road to U.S. Highway 90 was completed in 2005 for $31 million.

But there is still a lot of work to be done. Holland said the 10 miles of widening through Eglin is estimated to cost about $100 million. That estimate includes the construction of an additional bridge over the Yellow River.

For more on this story, see the Dec. 22 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.